Sunday, April 25, 2010

ROMANS SIX - FINAL SUMMARY

Recapping our series on Romans Six, below is the outline linked to the original articles:

This chapter divided into the Nature of sanctification consisting of Dying to sin (Mortification) and Living to God (Vivification) and the Necessity of Sanctification.


MORTIFICATION - Dying to Sin
1. Rom 6:2 it is to "Live no longer in Sin."
2. Rom 6:6 it is that "the body of sin must be destroyed."
3. Rom 6:11 it is to "Reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin."
4. Rom 6:12 Sin must not reign in our mortal bodies.
5. Rom 6:13 We must not yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness.

VIVIFICATION - Living to Righteousness
1. Rom 6:4 Walking in Newness of Life
2. Rom 6:11 TO BE ALIVE TO GOD
3. Rom 6:13 Yield ourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead
4. Rom 6:13 Yield our members as instruments of righteousness to God

THE NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION:
1.
Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death so it is necessary to conform to Christ's death.
3. Rom 6:9-10 Buried with him It is necessary also to conform unto Christ's RESURRECTION
4. Rom 6:14 we have new covenant promises, effectual and mighty, shall we sin against such love and grace.
5. Rom 6:15 to think we have license with such promises of encouragment is to "suck poison from them."
6. Rom 6:16 Our state is known by that to which we yield obedience.
7. Rom 6:17 THE CHANGE CAME ABOUT BY CONVERSION necessitates it
8. Rom 6:18 Conversion is the freedom from the service of sin to the service of GOD.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #8

Continuing on with the NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION while borrowing from the outline found in Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Previously:
1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death so it is necessary to conform to Christ's death.
3. Rom 6:9-10 Buried with him It is necessary also to conform unto Christ's RESURRECTION
4. Rom 6:14 we have new covenant promises, effectual and mighty, shall we sin against such love and grace.
5. Rom 6:15 to think we have license with such promises of encouragment is to "suck poison from them."
6. Rom 6:16 Our state is known by that to which we yield obedience.
7. Rom 6:17 THE CHANGE CAME ABOUT BY CONVERSION necessitates it

Now:
8. Rom 6:18 Conversion is the freedom from the service of sin to the service of GOD.

We are not our own masters.

Rom 6:21 What was the service of sin?
What fruit then?
Think about it!
It is such a fruit unbecoming to our shame.
Why willingly do what sooner or later will bring SHAME.

Looking forward, what is the end of this service to sin?
Blessing or cursing?
Good or evil?

Sin Leads to death - that's the end where it leads. Rom 6:21

Rom 6:23 The wages of sin is death.

But Grace for the servants of righteousness has the end being EVERLASTING LIFE, which is the gift of God.

Death is the dessert of sin.
Life is the gift of God.
Sinners merit hell but saints DO NOT merit heaven.

We must thank God and not ourselves if ever we get to heaven.

Christ purchased it, prepares it and prepares us for it, preserves us to it.

Christ is the alpha and omega, all in all in our salvation.

(Thanks be to God for faithful teachers like Matthew Henry who aided me in the series on Romans 6.)

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #7

Continuing on with the NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION while borrowing from the outline found in Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Previously:
1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death so it is necessary to conform to Christ's death.
3. Rom 6:9-10 Buried with him It is necessary also to conform unto Christ's RESURRECTION
4. Rom 6:14 we have new covenant promises, effectual and mighty, shall we sin against such love and grace.
5. Rom 6:15 to think we have license with such promises of encouragment is to "suck poison from them."
6. Rom 6:16 Our state is known by that to which we yield obedience.

Now:

7. THE CHANGE CAME ABOUT BY CONVERSION:
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

The gospel is the great rule both of truth and holiness.

The gospel is a doctrine not only to be believed, but to be obeyed and that from the heart, which denotes the sincerity and reality of that obedience; not in profession only but in power

- from the heart, the innermost part, the commanding part of us.

To be a Christian indeed is to be transformed into the likeness and similitude of the gospel.

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol VI, McDonald Publishing, P. 404.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #6

Continuing on with the NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION while borrowing from the outline found in Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Previously:
1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death so it is necessary to conform to Christ's death.
3. Rom 6:9-10 Buried with him It is necessary also to conform unto Christ's RESURRECTION
4. Rom 6:14 we have new covenant promises, effectual and mighty, shall we sin against such love and grace.
5. Rom 6:15 to think we have license with such promises of encouragment is to "suck poison from them."

Now:

6. Rom 6:16 Our state is known by that to which we yield obedience

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?


Hence such sanctification is necessary to know our true state - it reveals it to be true - without is to claim to separate justification and sanctification and cannot be.

Rom 6:17-21 From our former state -- YE WERE SERVANTS OF SIN[1]

Rom 6:19 - The body is made a drudge of sin - it was voluntarily yielded.[2]

Rom 6:20 Ye were free from righteousness[3]

[1] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol VI, McDonald Publishing, P. 403.

[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol VI, McDonald Publishing, P. 404.

[3] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol VI, McDonald Publishing, P. 404.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #5

Continuing on with the NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION while borrowing from the outline found in Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Previously:
1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death so it is necessary to conform to Christ's death.
3. Rom 6:9-10 Buried with him It is necessary also to conform unto Christ's RESURRECTION
4. Rom 6:14 we have new covenant promises, effectual and mighty, shall we sin against such love and grace.

Now:
5. The necessity of Sanctification further shown that we have such encouragement in the New Covenant promises - to sin would be to "suck poison."

ROM 6:15 Matthew Henry: Abusing this is to be “sucking poison from such encouragment.”
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Matthew Henry:
What can be more black and ill-natured than from a friend’s extradinary expressions of kindess and good-will to take occasion to affront and offend him? To spurn at such bowels, to spit in the face of such love, is that which between man and man, all the world would cry out shame one.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #4

Continuing on with the NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION while borrowing from the outline found in Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Previously:
1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death so it is necessary to conform to Christ's death.
3. Rom 6:9-10 Buried with him It is necessary also to conform unto Christ's RESURRECTION

Now:

4. ROM 6:14 THE NEW COVENANT PROMISE - WE ARE UNDER GRACE

The promises and privileges of THE NEW COVENANT -- there is strength laid up in the covenant of grace if we will but use it.

God promises to us are more powerful and effectual for the mortifying of sin than our promises to God.

Sin may struggle in a believer, and may create him a great deal of trouble, but it shall not have dominion, it may vex him but it shall not rule over him.

UNDER THE LAW: the law condemns.

We have such grace in the gospel. Nothing is required but what it promises strength to perform.

Shall we sin against so much goodness and abuse such love?

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #3

Continuing on with the NECESSITY OF SANCTIFCATION while borrowing from the outline found in Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Previously:
1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death.

Now:
3. It is necessary also not only to conform to CHRIST'S DEATH BUT to CONFORM TO HIS RESURRECTION.

ROM 6:9 Death does not have dominion over him. We are to be planted together in the likness of his resurrection. It is necessary therefore that we conform to his resurrection - walking in newness of life.

Rom 6:10 He arose to live unto GOD. We must conform to this and LIVE UNTO GOD. There is a necessity therefore in sanctification - for us who believe and are justified it is an INSEPARABLE BLESSING.

Self was the chief end - but now GOD THE CHIEF END.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #2

Continuing on with the NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION while borrowing from the outline found in Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Previously:
1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.

Now:
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death.

We have an obligation to comply with the design of His Death.

So our conformity to the death of Christ obliges us to die to sin. Phil 3:10 - fellowship of his sufferings.

Rom 6:4 Planted together in the likeness of his death. Planting - like a crop in order to life and fruitfulness.

Rom 6:6 Old man crucified with him. Sin doesn’t go easy or fast.

Christ for us has a work of Christ in us killing sin.

Rom 6:8 We are dead with Christ.

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Romans - Chap 6 The Necessity of Sanctification #1

"It is the spirits work to persuade us to Holiness our hearts naturally opposed to it." Matthew Henry.

If you have stuck with this series through Romans Six so far you might have thought, "he really uses Matthew Henry." This is purposeful. In 1989-1990 as I was reading through Matthew Henry's Commentary and encountering Romans Six I found this chapter especially helpful. I must have stayed there quite a lengthy time, gathering an outline from Henry that has stuck in my own mind for this many years. I couldn't pass through chapter Six without once again referring to it. The last several posts discussing Mortification and Vivification follows a partial outline of how I perceived Matthew Henry to expound on this same text.

Henry, once Finished explaining the Nature of Sanctification consisting in Dying and Living, Mortification and Vivification, goes on to explain the NECESSITY of Sanctification as described In Romans Chapter Six.

Here we begin by referring to Baptism:
1. We are dead to sin
Rom 6:2
"To participate in sin is to contradict our profession, violate an obligation."

return to that to which we were dead, like walking ghosts than which nothing is more unbecoming and absurd. Rom 4:7 Return to that slavery from which we were discharged."

Matthew Henry:
In general, we are dead to sin, that is, in profession and in obligation. Our baptism signifies our cutting off from the kingdom of sin. We profess to have no more to do with sin. We are dead to sin by a participation of virtue and power for the killing of it, and by our union with Christ and interest in him, in and by whom it is killed. All this is in vain if we persist in sin; we contradict a profession, violate an obligation, return to that to which we were dead, like walking ghosts, than which nothing is more unbecoming and absurd. For (Rom_6:7) he that is dead is freed from sin; that is, he that is dead to it is freed from the rule and dominion of it, as the servant that is dead is freed from his master, Job_3:19. Now shall we be such fools as to return to that slavery from which we are discharged? When we are delivered out of Egypt, shall we talk of going back to it again?

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #4

Having discussed Dying to SIN in previous posts, we have now begun to consider LIVING TO RIGHTEOUSNESS as described in Romans Chapter six.

So far:
1. Rom 6:4 Walking in Newness of Life
2.
Rom 6:11 TO BE ALIVE TO GOD

3.
Rom 6:13 Yield ourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead


So also Vivification is described in Romans 6 as:

4. Rom 6:13 Yield our members as instruments of righteousness to God
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Not yielding to sin - yet not idle - but made use of in the service of GOD

The soul the first and immediate instrument -- yet the members of the body are also to be instruments.

“The body must always be ready to serve the soul in service of God.”

And

ROM 6:19 Yield…servants to righteousness
KJV Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Righteousness unto holiness - growth and progress

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Borrowing again from Matthew Henry:
Every gracious act confirms and strengthens a gracious habit.

Serving righteousness is unto holiness.

One duty fits us for another.

The more we do the more we do for God.

Matthew Henry:
“Yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Let them be under the conduct and at the command of the righteous law of God, and that principle of inherent righteousness which the Spirit, as sanctifier, plants in the soul.” Righteousness unto holiness, which intimates growth, and progress, and ground obtained. As every sinful act confirms the sinful habit, and makes the nature more and more prone to sin (hence the members of a natural man are here said to be servants to iniquity unto iniquity - one sin makes the heart more disposed for another), so every gracious act confirms the gracious habit: serving righteousness is unto holiness; one duty fits us for another; and the more we do the more we may do for God. Or serving righteousness, eis hagiasmon - as an evidence of sanctification.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #3

Having discussed Dying to SIN in previous posts, we have now begun to consider LIVING TO RIGHTEOUSNESS as described in Romans Chapter six.

So far:
1. Rom 6:4 Walking in Newness of Life
2. Rom 6:11 TO BE ALIVE TO GOD

So also:

3. Rom 6:13 Yield ourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Borrowing from Matthew Henry:
Nothing less than your wholeselves.

Not as a dead carcass - but as those that are alive from the dead.

The surest evidence of our spiritual life is the dedication of ourself to God.

The redeemed to the one that redeemed them.

Matthew Henry:
As those that are alive from the dead. To yield a dead carcass to a living God is not to please him, but to mock him: “Yield yourselves as those that are alive and good for something, a living sacrifice,” Rom 12:1.

ROM 12:1
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,

Matthew Henry:
The very life and being of holiness lie in the dedication of ourselves to the Lord, giving our own selves to the Lord, 2Co 8:5. “Yield yourselves to him, not only as the conquered yields to the conqueror, because he can stand it out no longer; but as the wife yields herself to her husband, to whom her desire is, as the scholar yields himself to the teacher, the apprentice to his master, to be taught and ruled by him. Not yield your estates to him, but yield yourselves; nothing less than your whole selves;

Hanging Onto Every Word of God

Hanging Onto Every Word of God

Excellent word on Verbal Plenary Inspiration.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #2

Having discussed Dying to SIN in previous posts, we have now begun to consider LIVING TO RIGHTEOUSNESS as described in Romans Chapter six.

So far:
1. Rom 6:4 Walking in Newness of Life

So also:
2. Rom 6:11 TO BE ALIVE TO GOD
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Converse with God, have a regard, a delight, a concern, carried towards him.

Matthew Henry:
It is to be alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom_6:11. To converse with God, to have a regard to him, a delight in him, a concern for him, the soul upon all occasions carried out towards him as towards an agreeable object…

"The soul is where it loves, rather than where it lives."

Matthew Henry:
The soul is where it loves, rather than where it lives. It is to have the affections and desires alive towards God. Or, living (our live in the flesh) unto God, to his honour and glory as our end, by his word and will as our rule - in all our ways to acknowledge him, and to have our eyes ever towards him; this is to live unto God.

THROUGH JESUS CHRIST:
Christ our life,
Christ our mediator
Christ the author
Christ the head
Christ the root.
Christ all in all.

Matthew Henry:
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ is our spiritual life; there is no living to God but through him. He is the Mediator; there can be no comfortable receivings from God, nor acceptable regards to God, but in and through Jesus Christ; no intercourse between sinful souls and a holy God, but by the mediation of the Lord Jesus. Through Christ as the author and maintainer of this life; through Christ as the head from whom we receive vital influence; through Christ as the root by which we derive sap and nourishment, and so live. In living to God, Christ is all in all.

John 15:5 Christ the Vine
John 14: 6 Christ the way, the truth, and the Life
1Tim 2:5 Christ the ONE Mediator

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #1

Describing in the previous posts that the nature of Sanctification as described in Romans Chapter Six consists in both mortification and vivification. - We have so far seen mortification described in Romans Six as:

1. Rom 6:2 it is to "Live no longer in Sin."
2. Rom 6:6 it is that "the body of sin must be destroyed."
3. Rom 6:11 it is to "Reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin."
4. Rom 6:12 Sin must not reign in our mortal bodies.
5. Rom 6:13 We must not yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness.

H
aving considered Mortification and how it has been described in Romans Chapter Six in these five ways; 1. though not without sin yet as a no longer living in sin. 2. The body of sin destroyed being described as not only ceasing from outward acts of sin but actually the habits and inclinations to sin weakened and destroyed. Outward restraint won't do it the very root of sin must be weakened and destroyed. 3. We must THINK of ourselves as DEAD INDEED unto sin, for with death is a great release. Having the bully die is very freeing but being dead ourselves is more freeing yet for then no bully may touch us. 4 .Don't let sin be the KING of your fleshly lusts. Though sin remains IT MUST NOT REIGN. It has been dethroned and we are no longer it's subjects therefore don't obey it in the lusts of the body. Finally, 5. FIGHT don't Yield, but Fight. Don't simply submit your hand, your foot, your eyes, your mind to sin, FIGHT IT, resist, resist with strength. Don't yield your members as instruments unto sin.

Let us now consider the 2nd part of the nature of sanctification which we called VIVIFICATION or LIVING TO GOD or LIVING TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

1. Rom 6:4 Walk in newness of Life

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Matthew Henry:
Vivification, or living to righteousness; and what is that? (1.) It is to walk in newness of life, Rom 6:4. Newness of life supposes newness of heart, for out of the heart are the issues of life, and there is not way to make the stream sweet but by making the spring so. Walking, in scripture, is put for the course and tenour of the conversation, which must be new. Walk by new rules, towards new ends, from new principles. Make a new choice of the way. Choose new paths to walk in, new leaders to walk after, new companions to walk with. Old things should pass away, and all things become new. The man is what he was not, does what he did not.

Walking - the whole course of our life - our life is a walk - how we live - in newness.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Romans- Chapter Six Mortification Continued #5

Describing in the previous posts that the nature of Sanctification as described in Romans Chapter Six consists in both mortification and vivification. - We have so far seen mortification described in Romans Six as:

1. it is to "Live no longer in Sin."
2. it is that "the body of sin must be destroyed."
3. it is to "Reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin."
4. Sin must not reign in our mortal bodies.

With this post we continue on with Rom 6:13 further expounding what is this mortification.

5. Rom 6:13 We must not yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

DON’T YIELD -- Though through much temptation and struggle they are forced to sin, Don’t simply consent and Yield. FIGHT.

Matthew Henry:
The members of the body are made use of by the corrupt nature as tools, by which the wills of the flesh are fulfilled; but we must not consent to that abuse. The members of the body are fearfully and wonderfully made; it is a pity they should be the devil's tools of unrighteousness unto sin, instruments of the sinful actions, according to the sinful dispositions. Unrighteousness is unto sin; the sinful acts confirm and strengthen the sinful habits; one sin begets another; it is like the letting forth of water, therefore leave it before it be meddled with. The members of the body may perhaps, through the prevalency of temptation, be forced to be instruments of sin; but do not yield them to be so, do not consent to it.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Romans- Chapter Six Mortification Continued #4

Describing in the previous posts that the nature of Sanctification as described in Romans Chapter Six consists in both mortification and vivification. - We have so far seen mortification described in Romans Six as:

1. it is to "Live no longer in Sin."
2. it is that "the body of sin must be destroyed."
3. it is to "Reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin."

With this post we continue on with Rom 6:12 further expounding what is this mortification.

4. Rom 6:12 Sin must not reign in our mortal bodies Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Matthew Henry:
Though sin may remain as an outlaw, though it may oppress as a tyrant, yet let it not reign as a king.

It refers to the mortal body. Do not obey sin in the lusts of your mortal body.

Matthew Henry:
In the lusts thereof - en tais epithumiais autou. It refers to the body, not to sin. Sin lies very much in the gratifying of the body, and humouring that. And there is a reason implied in the phrase your mortal body; because it is a mortal body, and hastening apace to the dust, therefore let not sin reign in it. It was sin that made our bodies mortal, and therefore do not yield obedience to such an enemy.

LUSTS: Struggle against them - oppose them - don’t make provision to fulfill them.

John Gill:

obey it in the lusts thereof; the lusts of the body, or flesh, which are therefore sometimes called fleshly lusts, are many, and have great power and influence; and may be said to be obeyed, when provision is made to fulfil them, when these are the business of a man's life, and the whole of his conversation is taken up in them, without struggle against them, or opposition to them; and heroin lies the reign of sin.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Romans - Chapter Six Mortification Continued #3

Describing in the previous posts that the nature of Sanctification as described in Romans Chapter Six consists in both mortification and vivification. - We have begun to show what is described in Romans Six as mortification so far seeing how this is:

1. it is to "Live no longer in Sin."
2. it is that "the body of sin must be destroyed."

With this post we continue on with Rom 6:11 further expounding what is this mortification.

3. Rom 6:11 We must reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.


DEATH BRINGS A RELEASE

Matthew Henry:
As the death of the oppressor is a release, so much more is the death of the oppressed, Job 3:17, Job 3:18. Death brings a writ of ease to the weary. Thus must we be dead to sin, obey it, observe it, regard it, fulfil its will no more than he that is dead doth his quandam task-masters - be as indifference to the pleasures and delights of sin as a man that is dying is to his former diversions. He that is dead is separated from his former company, converse, business, enjoyments, employments, is not what he was, does not what he did, has not what he had. Death makes a mighty change; such a change doth sanctification make in the soul, it cuts off all correspondence with sin.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Romans - Chapter Six Mortification Continued #2

Keywords for Romans Chapter Six:
Dying to Sin and Living to God - or Mortification and Vivification.

Memory Verse:
Rom 6:11

Describing in the last post that the nature of Sanctification as described in Romans Chapter Six consists in both mortification and vivification - and so thus beginning to consider Mortification in the last post we saw how it is to 1. it is to "Live no longer in Sin." With this post we contine on with Rom 6:6 further expounding what this mortification is.

2. Rom 6:6 THE BODY OF SIN MUST BE DESTROYED
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Matthew Henry:
We must not only cease from the acts of sin (this may be done through the influence of outward restraints, or other inducements), but we must get the vicious habits and inclinations weakened and destroyed; not only cast away the idols of iniquity out of the heart. - That henceforth we should not serve sin. The actual transgression is certainly in a great measure prevented by the crucifying and killing of the original corruption.

Romans Six and Google Reader

GOOGLE READER DOES NOT FORGIVE:

Some of the posts from our current series in Romans Six regarding both the Nature of Sanctification, (Mortification and Vivification) and the Necessity of Sanctification have appeared out of order temporarily on taste-that-which-is-good.blogspot.com. While I can quickly clean these up and schedule for the proper order I can not retrieve from GOOGLE READER what has one-time been posted.

Most of you probably already discovered this but just in case:

ONCE YOU POST IN BLOGSPOT the post will appear in google reader. Even if you change your mind and delete the post.

If you post and then return and make corrections the original incorrect post may also remain in google reader.

My intended order of posts are Titled as follows:

Romans - Chapter Six Mortification and Vivification
Romans - Chapter Six Mortification Continuted #2
Romans - Chapter Six Mortification Continuted #3
Romans - Chapter Six Mortification Continuted #4
Romans - Chapter Six Mortification Continuted #5
Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #1
Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #2
Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #3
Romans - Chapter Six Vivification #4
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #1
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #2
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #3
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #4
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #5
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #6
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #7
Romans - Chapter 5 The Necessity of Sanctification #8

The Intended Outline will be:
THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION:

MORTIFICATION POSTS 1-5:
1. Rom 6:2 it is to "Live no longer in Sin."
2. Rom 6:6 it is that "the body of sin must be destroyed."
3. Rom 6:11 it is to "Reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin."
4. Rom 6:12 Sin must not reign in our mortal bodies.
5. Rom 6:13 We must not yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness.

VIVIFICATION POSTS 1-4:

1. Rom 6:4 Walking in Newness of Life
2. Rom 6:11 TO BE ALIVE TO GOD
3. Rom 6:13 Yield ourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead
4. Rom 6:13 Yield our members as instruments of righteousness to God

THE NECESSITY OF SANCTIFICATION
POSTS 1-8:


1. Rom 6:2 We are dead to sin, to sin is a contradiction of our profession.
2. Rom 6:3 Baptized into his death so it is necessary to conform to Christ's death.
3. Rom 6:9-10 Buried with him It is necessary also to conform unto Christ's RESURRECTION
4. Rom 6:14 we have new covenant promises, effectual and mighty, shall we sin against such love and grace.
5. Rom 6:15 to think we have license with such promises of encouragment is to "suck poison from them."
6. Rom 6:16 Our state is known by that to which we yield obedience.
7. Rom 6:17 THE CHANGE CAME ABOUT BY CONVERSION necessitates it
8. Rom 6:18 Conversion is the freedom from the service of sin to the service of GOD.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Romans - Chapter Six Mortification & Vivification

Memory Verses:
Rom 6:1-2
Rom 6:11

Expanded memory verses: Also Rom 6:22-23

Keywords:

Dying and living
Or
Dying to Sin and Living to God (or Living to Righteousness as Matthew Henry has it)
Or
Mortification and Vivification (if you like big words)

THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION:



Matthew Henry:
For the first, we may hence observe the nature of sanctification, what it is, and wherein it consists. In general it has two things in it, mortification and vivification - dying to sin and living to righteousness, elsewhere expressed by putting off the old man and putting on the new, ceasing to do evil and learning to do well.



FIRST MORTIFICATION - DYING:
MORTIFICATION EXPRESSED IN SEVERAL WAYS (Note the Following FIVE)
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Not living without sin --- but not living IN sin.

Matthew Henry:
1. Mortification, putting off the old man; several ways this is expressed. (1.) We must live no longer in sin (Rom_6:2), we must not be as we have been nor do as we have done. The time past of our life must suffice, 1Pe_4:3. Though there are none that live without sin, yet, blessed be God, there are those that do not live in sin, do not live in it as their element, do not make a trade of it: this is to be sanctified.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

EASTER Sentence

My twelve-year old daughter continuing on with her thoughts on Easter sent me the following Easter Story within the confines of one long sentence.

THE STORY OF EASTER
After the Crucifixion Christ
was in the grave for 3 days.
One day Mary and some other
women went to the grave but
when they got there the grave
was open and Christ was gone
and an angel appeared unto them
and said Christ is risen "go and
tell every one you know" and they
left all but Mary who stayed behind
wondering if this was true and suddenly
she saw a man thinking he was the gardener
she asked him were is Jesus he answered
saying, "Mary" and she saw it was he "go and tell
all that you know that I am risen" and she went.

Friday, April 2, 2010

He is Risen

HE IS RISEN INDEED.

This greeting and response was made very precious to me through the reading of Georgie Vins' book, Let the Waters Roar. The book describes the events of persecution in the Soviet Union involving several different people of whom Pastor Vins was acquainted. Powerful book.

It is such a blessing when your children think upon heavenly things. And even more so when they write about it. Yesterday I received the following in an email from my twelve year old daughter. She had some thoughts about Easter and expressed them in the following poem. I think of it as kind of an EASTER-RAP song.

EASTER

All the eggs in the world
won't speak the truth,
the Resurrection
or have the same affection.
But the joy from my heart says to tell of the affection
and resurrection
of the my lord Jesus.
He sees us,
saved us,
and finally is with us.
So next time when you see an egg on Easter
remember it's the Resurrection it's about
not the egg of affection. Don't shout!